Valve for milking systems



June 2, 1953 R. E. REEVE 2,640,497

VALVE FOR MILKING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /9 l3 1 l4 24 26 m INVENTOR R oberz EReeI/e rwMpw ATTORNEYS R. E. REEVE VALVE FOR MILKING SYSTEMS June 2, 19 53 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6 1951 INVENTOR Roberz EReeI/e ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1953 -UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE VALVEFOR MILKING SYSTEMS Robert E. Reeve, Tracy, Calif.

Application November 6, 1951, Serial No. 254,990

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to an improvement in valves; the instant application being a continuation as to all common subject matter of application Serial No. 225,088, filed May 8, 1951, on Valve.

In particular the invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a novel valve for use in dairies or the like.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a valve which is especially designed, but not limited, for use in connection between a milk feed hose and a pipe line in a continuous milking system.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a valve, as above, which comprises a plurality of parts which are separable for the purpose of convenience and effective washing and sterilization of the same; such parts being arranged for ready and quick separation or coupling, manually.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a valve for the purpose described which includes a novel quick-coupling and sealing unit between one part fixed to the pipeline of the milking system, and another part which connects to the milk feed hose; the latter part having a plug valve associated therewith to control liquid flow through the device.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a valve which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable valve, and yet one which will" be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts, as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is 'a'plan view of the valve with all the parts in engagement, as for use.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the valve.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig; 4 is an end view of the fixed body part looking toward the wide'angle taper seat.

Fig. 5 is an inner end view of the separable body part looking toward the frusto-conical coupling head.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the valve, which is indicated generally at I, is adapted to connect to and establish communication between a milk feed hose 2 and the fixed pipe line 3 of a continuous milking system in a dairy.

2 I The valve I comprises a body part 4 fixed to the pipe line 3 and projecting laterally therefrom; such body part 4 including an axial bore 5 which communicates with the interior of the pipe line 3.

The axial bore 5 runs straight for a short dis- -tance from the pipe line 3 and then flares to form a wide angle taper seat 6.

The numeral 1 indicates an elongated separable body part having an axial passage 8 extending therethrough; the outer end portion of said separable body part I being formed as an attachment neck 9 on which the hose 2 is fitted.

At its inner end the separable body part I is 4 formed with a frusto-conical coupling head I0 adapted to engage in matching relation in the wide angle taper seat 6 of the fixed body part 4.

The frusto-conical coupling head I0 is formed, in the face thereof, with an annular channel II in which a ring seal I2 is disposed; said ring seal I2 being shaped to project out of the annular channel I I.

When the frusto-conical coupling I0 is forcefully engaged in the wide angle taper seat 6, the ring seal I2 compresses against such seat in sealing relation to the parts; the passage 8 then being in communication with the straight inner end portion of the axial bore 5.

The following mechanism is employed for quick-detachably coupling the head ID in the taper seat 6:

The separable body part I is formed, immediately outwardly of the head Ill, with opposed laterally projecting, locking dogs I3 which engage in corresponding outwardly projecting, laterally inwardly opening hooks I4 formed on the fixed body part 4 beyond opposite sides of the taper fully engaging the head I0 in said seat a, with the ring seal I2 under relatively high compression.

While the parts are normally held in forceful engagement, as above. they can be quickly detached manually merely by the simple expedient of part-rotation of the body part 1, and re-engagement is accomplished with equal ease.

The separable body part I is formed with a substantially vertical-axis taper bore I5 extending therethrough and in which taper bore a removable taper plug valve I6 is engaged in matching relation. The taper plug valve [6 has a cross bore ll therethrough whereby in one rotative position of said plug valve, communication is established through the passage 8, and in another position such passage is blocked. The taper plu valve I6 is formed at its upper end with a stem l8 having a radial handle l9 thereon, such handle being parallel tov the axis of the bodypart I when said plug valve I 6 isopen.

The following arrangement is provided to normally prevent axially upward displacement of the plug valve l6 and its accidental escape from the taper bore l5.

The fixed body part 4 is formed on top with a longitudinal, upwardly opening notch 29"; suchnotch being shallow and substantially rectangular in cross section. The notch 20 forms a seat quick-releasable upon part-rotation of said initially separate body part securing the coupling head in said seat, said separate body part having a taper bore thereacross, a taper plug valve removably engaged in said taper bore, a longitudinally upwardly opening seat forming and locator notch on top of said first named body part, a longitudinally extending hold-down finger having its inner end engaged in: locating relation in said notch, means securing said inner end of the hold-down finger in said notch, the finger and locator for the inner end of a hold-down:

The notch Z-G'thislOcates. the hold-downfinger.

2 i againstlateralmotion.

Intermediate its ends the hold-downfinger 2.! is upwardly offset, as. at 24,. and the horizontal, outenendportion-=of such finger has a headed screw 26 threaded therethrough and. projecting. downwardly. lhe headed. screw 25 is run down so. that itslower endnormally forcefully engages in an upwardly opening. recess 27. in the upper endof the. stem 18 of. taper plug valve It.

With this arrangement the. taper. plug valve 15 is normally maintained. in. position. in the taper bore 15,, although the. radial handle t9. may be manipulated to open. or. close said. valve.

However, when the. separable. bodyv part I isto be. part-rotated. to quick-detach it from. the fixed body part. 4, thescrew 26. isbacked'. away or up.-. There? \vardl'y from and. escapes the recess-.27. aftenthe separable body part 1 cache-uncoupled from the fixed body part 4 without obstruction,

and with thescrew 25 clearv oi the. stem 3- the taper plugvalve it. may be withdrawn from the taper bore 15.

As a consequence the: parts. of the device can be quick-detached for Washing. andsterilization after completion of eachmilking operation, and then easily reassembledby hand.

.From the foregoing description it will. be readily seen that there has been produced such a device may be resorted; to cede. not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the.

appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, thefol.

. .coupled. together to prevent removal of. said.

thence projecting in overhanging relation to the taper. plug valve, and a screw threaded downwardly through the finger and normally engaging the upper end of the valve in hold-down relation.

2. A valve, as inclaim 1, in which the holddown finger is upwardly offset intermediate its ends, with a horizontal outer end portion; the screw being threaded through the. latter..

3.. A. valve, as in claim 2, which the taper plug valve. includes an. upstanding stem. having. a recess in. its upper end; the screw engaging in said recess.

4. A. valve unit comprising separate body. parts provided with a bore. therethrough. and formed.

with co-engaging seats about. the bore at the adjacent ends of the parts,. means between. the

parts to releasably couple the same together, a 'plug valve member reinovably projecting. across.

the bore of one body. part, and means mountedon the other body part. and releasahly engageable with the other member when. the. parts. are

member and also preventing uncoupling of. the

body parts; the. valve member being. rotatable. without axial movement. for. opening and closing.

of the valve; said last. named means comprising;

an'axi'all'y projecting stem on the valve member.

havinga recess in its. outerv end, a. finger secured on. said other body parts overhanging the stem iniclearance relation thereto when the body parts are coupled together, and a screw mounted in the finger in axial alinement with the stem when lowing is claimed as new" and useful, and upon whichv Letters Patent are desired:

1. .A valve comprising a body. parthaving abore fiared at one end to form: a taper seat, an initially separate body part having an axial passage therethrough, airusto-conical coupling; head on. one end of the initially separate body part adapted to engage in said: seat withthe. passage in communication. with the bore, means References Citedin the file or this patent UNITED STATES. BATENTS.

r 5 Number Name Date.

209,380 Connelly' Oct. 2Q, 1878 822,286 Hemje July 14, 1885 767,843 Smith Aug; 16, 1904 831,060 Grunfel'd Sept. '18, 1906? 1,622,216 Anlauf Mar. 22; 19.27 1,695,207 Sangster Dec. 11,. 1928 1,846,865 Hapgood Feb: 23, 1932' 2,258,017 King Oct. 7,. I941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date.

'the body parts are so coupledand arranged to enter the recess and engage the stem in holddown relation upon advance of the screw from a retracted position.

ROBERT E. REEVE. 

